The Gettysburg College Chapter of Youth Action Africa was founded in January 2009. The founding members of the chapter included Lauren C. Dembo, Rashard L. Rabsatt, Wayne A. Chang Jr., Hadiatou Barry, Christine Crayton, Akinwumi "Sam" Alo, Rachael Oluwabiyi Adu, Diane K. Farrell, Lawrese E. Brown and Benjamin D. Boamah, under the leadership of Benjamin D. Boamah, who served as President until the end of the 2008/2009 academic year. The chapter sought to alleviate poverty, improve health and education conditions in Africa through grassroots projects. Since its inception, the Gettysburg College chapter has focused on programs mainly in the field of education, believing that proper education provides hope for the future.

Within the first year of YAA being established at Gettysburg College, the chapter has successful organized and coordinated projects to further the mission of Youth Action Africa, most notably, the First Annual Youth Action Africa Book Drive. In addition, the chapter has collaborated with the Gettysburg College Peace Club to organize Peace Week in celebration of the global peace movement. During this week the chapter sponsored a viewing of "Pray the Devil Back to Hell" by Gini Reticker. This moving documentary chronicles the role women played in ending the bloody Liberian Civil War and bringing peace to the war torn nation of Liberia.

With the strong leadership of its Executive Board, the Gettysburg College chapter of Youth Action Africa looks forward to raising awareness in the Gettysburg community about the needs of Africa, and through innovative projects it seeks to develop some solutions to these issues. The chapter looks forward to collaborating with both the parent organization and other Youth Action Africa chapters in order to accomplish this goal.

This chapter currently operates with 8 board members serving a student body of about 30+ members from Gettysburg College.

For information on this chapter, send emails to gettysburg@youthactionafrica.org

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"I'm encouraging young people to become social business entrepreneurs and contribute to the world, rather than just making money. Making money is no fun. Contributing to and changing the world is a lot more fun."
- Muhammad Yunus